The team at Marathon Sports has spent lots of time around running shoes. We’ve seen it all – bulky max cushion shoes with marshmallow-soft landings, ultra-light barefoot-inspired shoes, and everything in between. Suffice to say, it’s hard for a running shoe to surprise us anymore.
Enter the Tracksmith Eliot Ryder, a truly one-of-a-kind shoe that managed to take us by surprise. This shoe takes a totally unique approach to max cushioning, pairing a sleek, minimalist silhouette with ultra-soft drop-in cushioning.
Tracksmith was founded in the Boston area back in 2014. This local apparel brand has quickly grown to become a go-to choice for premium running apparel. And the renowned apparel company launched its debut running shoe, the Eliot Runner, back in 2022.
Over the years, Tracksmith has built a small but mighty collection of running shoes, including a daily trainer, racing shoe, and trail shoe. Now, with the introduction of the Eliot Ryder, Tracksmith is adding a bouncy high cushion shoe to its lineup.
Tracksmith Eliot Ryder: An Overview
While Tracksmith got its start in high-quality performance apparel, its running shoes have also made quite the splash in the running shoe world. The models emphasize performance, functionality, and comfort, but also maintain Tracksmith’s sleek aesthetic.
So we were excited to see how all these elements come together in a max cushion shoe like the Eliot Ryder. We’ll take a closer look at the stats and specs and dive into how all the features feel and perform during our road testing.
Before we dive in, here’s a brief overview of the shoe and all the specs you can expect to find.
- A neutral, high-cushion shoe with one of the largest drop-in midsoles around for maximum softness without sacrificing stability
- Stack height: 44.5 mm of foam in the heel, 37.5 mm in the forefoot
- Heel-to-toe drop: 7 mm
- Weight: 9.5 oz (unisex sizing)
- 25 mm supercritical ATPU foam sits directly underneath the foot inside the shoe
- Supercritical midsole chassis stabilizes the feet
- Rockered midsole construction aids in smooth transitions
- Upper is made from an engineered woven material with functional zoning, along with an engineered knit tongue for a secure fit
- Suede overlays provide additional support and stabilization around the foot
- Rubber net mesh outsole enhances grip and durability without adding excess weight or bulk
- Price: $220
A Closer Look: Eliot Ryder Key Features
The Eliot Ryder is a brand-new running shoe model with a wide range of innovative and unique features. Let’s take a deeper dive into all these elements and how they play out in Tracksmith’s latest shoe.
Drop-In Cushioning
One of the most unique features in the Eliot Ryder is the huge drop-in midsole with 25 mm of supercritical ATPU directly inside the shoe.
A high stack of foam traditionally makes up the midsole in max cushion shoes. This foam provides soft, protected landings, but often comes at the expense of stability. Too much soft, bouncy cushioning underfoot without the right stability elements tends to feel unstable or wobbly over the course of a run.
This is where the Tracksmith Eliot Ryder differs from the other high-to-max cushion shoes on the market. Instead of cushioning in the midsole, a thick drop-in slab of cushioning lowers the center of gravity while providing bounce, cushioning, and protection directly under the foot.
The supercritical ATPU foam is soft and springy, delivering an ultra-soft feel without sacrificing stable landings. The brand boasts over 85% resilience and energy return in this cushioned insole, designed for comfortable landings with bounce and responsiveness in every step.
Stabilizing Midsole Frame
The 45/37.5 mm stack height is one of the highest in running shoes, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at the sleek, streamlined design. A minimal supercritical midsole chassis balances out this high stack of cushioning.
This firm, thin midsole frame disguises the high cushioned design, giving the shoe a more stylish, casual-wear look that can carry you from your training runs to casual hangouts and day-to-day life.
But this minimal midsole frame isn’t just about aesthetics. It also serves a functional purpose, providing a stable landing platform that works with the cushioned insole to deliver high cushioning benefits without the instability.
Upper Construction
Part of the good news with the upper is that it maintains the clean, understated aesthetic Tracksmith is best known for. You get a minimalist, no-frills design that can easily blend in with both Tracksmith’s workout attire and your casual lifestyle apparel.
And like the rest of the shoe, the upper construction doesn’t sacrifice performance for style. The upper is made from an engineered woven material with zonal breathability and flexibility to keep your feet cool and comfortable during any run.
The Eliot Ryder is a max cushion shoe that’s all about stability, and this focus is evident in the upper. Suede overlays along the upper play a key role in supporting the foot, keeping it stabilized and centered inside the shoe.
Finally, an engineered knit tongue with built-in padding wraps around the top of the foot, delivering all-around comfort and a secure fit.
Shoe Geometry
With one of the largest drop-in midsoles ever, the Eliot Ryder has a unique geometry that puts a soft, cushioned feel in a lightweight, minimalist package.
Because the shoe itself is inherently stable, with a firm midsole frame and accommodating last, it doesn’t need additional stabilizing elements such as a low drop to keep you feeling grounded. The Eliot Ryder has a moderate 7 mm offset between the heel and forefoot cushioning.
This moderate drop provides adequate cushioning and protection in the rearfoot for heel strikers, all without feeling uncomfortable or unnatural for mid-to-forefoot strikers.
The midsole also has a curved rocker geometry. This rockered shape helps propel you forward, ensuring smooth strides and effortless transitions throughout your long runs or recovery miles.
Durability & Value
Flipping the shoe over, you’ll see a rubber net mesh outsole running the entire length of the shoe. This high-mileage rubber contributes to a more durable design while adding some additional grip and traction underfoot.
As a brand, Tracksmith is all about high-quality materials, and this philosophy extends to its running shoes. At $220, the Eliot Ryder has a high price tag compared to other max cushion trainers. However, the premium materials guarantee long-lasting wear and durability.
Generally, max cushion shoes aren’t the most versatile running shoes around, as they tend to be too heavy and bulky to effortlessly pick up the pace in. The Ryder avoids these pitfalls with a lightweight design (9.5 oz for a unisex 9) and a sleek design that won’t feel too clunky.
Even still, the Ryder works best as a long run or recovery day shoe. The super luxurious step-in feel will likely feel too soft and spongy for uptempo runs. The soft, plush ride makes the Eliot Ryder a great choice as a dedicated long run or everyday shoe as opposed to a versatile do-it-all trainer.
Road Test Results: How Does the Eliot Ryder Perform on Runs?
There’s no easy way to say it: max cushion shoes usually aren’t the best-looking shoes around. While our review team appreciates the added shock absorption and comfort on long runs, shoes with a high stack height inevitably look – and feel – bulky and heavy on our feet.
And while there’s a place in the rotation for more minimal shoes, models with that sleeker, more streamlined design just don’t offer the same plush landings that keep legs and feet feeling fresh for miles and miles.
So our review team was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Eliot Ryder – a shoe that uses innovative drop-in cushioning to blend cushioning, performance, and style.
And while looks are never the most important factor to consider in a running shoe, we were impressed with the design when we opened up the box for the first time. This max cushion shoe certainly doesn’t look like a max cushion shoe. We could easily see the Eliot Ryder doubling as both a daily trainer and a casual hangout shoe with its preppy sportswear aesthetic.
So the Eliot Ryder gets high marks on appearance. But how does it actually feel and perform on runs?
Sliding the shoe on, we could immediately feel all the plush cushioning that was hidden inside. The thick slab of ATPU cushioning provided immediate softness. And as we hit the roads for some test runs, we appreciated the soft yet responsive foam directly underneath our foot, as opposed to in the midsole.
The Eliot Ryder is also surprisingly stable for a shoe with 40+ mm of foam in the heel. The midsole does a great job of helping you feel planted on the ground, all while guiding you forward with a subtle rocker.
This stable design paired with a high stack height made the Eliot Ryder a standout on long runs or easy daily miles. We could feel the soft, spongy foam underfoot with each step, which did a great job of absorbing impact and keeping legs and feet feeling fresh and comfortable for mile after mile.
Unfortunately, this performance didn’t quite extend to uptempo runs and workouts. The Ryder is certainly more versatile than other shoes with a similar stack height due to its sleek, stable design. But when we tried to pick up the pace, you could feel your feet sinking into the plush drop-in slab, making the shoe less efficient for more uptempo efforts.
On the positive side, the engineered woven upper was another highlight for our review team. With so much cushioning right under the foot, the upper didn’t need a ton of additional padding and protection to keep us comfortable, and we appreciated the lighter, more streamlined design on runs.
There’s some integrated padding in the tongue for a secure fit around the top of the foot, but the upper is lightweight and flexible, which lets the ATPU slab right under the foot really shine.
While we liked the support from the structured upper design and suede overlays, we did find that on hot summer days, it wasn’t the most breathable. The zonal construction helped with airflow, but on particularly warm days or treadmill runs in the gym, we could have used a bit more ventilation.
Fit and sizing are some other factors to keep in mind if you’re debating whether the Eliot Ryder is right for you. The last is more accommodating than other Tracksmith shoes, but in general, the model fits short and narrow. Consider sizing up to ensure you have enough space throughout the shoe.
Throughout our road testing, we found some features that really worked well in the Eliot Ryder, as well as areas that could use some improvement. But in general, if you love the plush, high cushion feel of modern running shoes but aren’t sold on the look and bulky design, this new Tracksmith shoe is for you.
The one-of-a-kind drop-in design delivers all the comfort, luxury, and shock absorption you could ask for, all while allowing you to feel connected to the ground. It isn’t the most versatile shoe around due to the high stack height and plush ride, but if you need a dedicated long run shoe or don’t want to sacrifice style for comfort, the new Eliot Ryder is a fantastic running shoe option.
Pros and Cons
We were excited to see Tracksmith bringing something completely new and different to the running shoe world. And throughout our testing, we found a lot to love, as well as a few downsides, with the Eliot Ryder.
Here’s a summary of the pros and cons we found:
Pros
- Innovative ATPU slab provides a high cushion feel directly underneath the foot, providing max protection on long runs without the instability or bulk commonly associated with high cushion shoes
- Curved supercritical stabilizing chassis helps keep you stable and centered with subtle forward guidance
- Incredibly lightweight for the amount of cushioning, weighing in at only 9.5 oz for a unisex size 9
- Engineered woven upper uses functional zoning and suede overlays for just the right amount of structure, support, and flex during long runs
- High-mileage rubber net mesh outsole enhances grip and longevity, allowing you to take the Eliot Ryder from runs to casual hangouts without worrying about early wear
Cons
- Fits narrow and short – consider sizing up if you have wider feet or prefer a more spacious fit
- Upper lacks breathability in warmer weather conditions
- Not a lot of versatility and adaptability, particularly at the $220 price point
The Tracksmith Eliot Ryder vs the Competition: How Does it Stack Up?
It’s not often that we draw a blank when searching for a one-to-one comparison for a shoe model, but the Eliot Ryder is truly one-of-a-kind. While other shoes use a high-stack midsole to deliver cushioning and comfort, the Eliot Ryder is one of the only options on the market with drop in cushioning.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s the only shoe worth considering when you’re looking for that plush, cushiony ride.
The Puma MagMax Nitro 2 has a similar stack height (46/38 mm) and weight (9.7 oz for men’s, 7.9 for women’s) as the Eliot Ryder. This Puma shoe is a more traditional high cushion shoe, with a large NITROFOAM midsole. The flared base and responsive foam keep it relatively stable, but the tradeoff here is the clunky look and feel.
However, the Eliot Ryder is considerably more expensive than most other shoes in the high cushion neutral running shoe category. It rings up at $220, while the more standard MagMax Nitro 2 is the more affordable option at $179.95.
The Eliot Ryder also wouldn’t be our top choice as a do-it-all daily trainer due to its high stack of ultra-soft cushioning. Both the Ryder and Asics Megablast are premium high cushion shoes that excel during longer mileage. However, with a lightweight and energetic midsole and firm, more responsive ride, many runners will likely find the Megablast more adaptable to both long mileage and uptempo runs.
The Finish Line: Eliot Ryder Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Running shoes have come a long way over the years, and recent shoes continue to improve and innovate to provide the best possible running, walking, and workout experience.
The Eliot Ryder from Tracksmith brings this innovation to a whole new level with the biggest drop in construction in running shoes, a 25mm supercritical ATPU insole, and a stable supercritical midsole frame. And with all these performance features, Tracksmith doesn’t sacrifice style.
The shoe isn’t for everyone, and if you’re looking for a versatile trainer you can use for all your training runs, the Eliot Ryder may not be the best choice. But anyone who wants a sleek, lightweight high cushion shoe for everything from long runs to walks around town should consider this unique new Tracksmith model.
At Marathon Sports, we always say that you shouldn’t base your running or walking shoe decisions on appearance. Unfortunately, this can occasionally result in athletes going with high cushion shoes that aren’t exactly their idea of fashion. But now, with the Eliot Ryder, you can have both style and substance in a comfortable and cushioned daily trainer.
Whether you’re lacing up for a long run or running errands around your city, the Eliot Ryder is up for the task. And you can test the shoe out for yourself now at Marathon Sports. Stop by today to try Tracksmith’s newest trainer, shop their premium running apparel, and find all the gear you need to stay happy and healthy on your runs.
